Our stories

Mum Becky* has completed our Keeping Us Together program at Dillwynia Correctional Centre.

Here she reflects on what she’s gained from the program and the future she wants to build for her daughters.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Becky*.

“It’s hard sometimes coming to this class because it really makes me think about my girls and how much I miss them but it also makes me realise how lucky I am to have them.

I am blessed to be able to speak to them on the phone every day and this class has made me want to be a better mum for my girls.

My girls have seen me at my worst but they still tell me every time I speak to them how much they love me.

This makes me want to do better, if they love me at my worst imagine how much they will love me when I am at my best with all my focus on them.

Just before I came in here, I was deep in drug addiction and the girls spent most of their time with their dad because I didn’t want them to see me that way, we spoke on the phone a lot and they always wanted to see me.

If I had just stopped the drugs and hanging out with the wrong crowd, I could have seen them whenever I wanted.

Since doing this program I have thought about my actions and the path I took and I’m using this as a way to get off the path I was going down.

I have a choice in here and I choose to be the best mum I can be, even though I still have a few more years to go, I have new tools now.

SHINE has helped me so much, it’s been a hard program but one that has really made me stop and think about how I can be better.

I also recorded a book with SHINE too and my girls absolutely love it.

At the end of November, I have my first visit with them and I can’t wait, it’s been over 10 months since I have seen them and I can’t wait to hold them.”

Please donate today and help mums build a better future for their kids.

Thank you to the Department of Communities and Justice NSW for supporting this program.